came in good time for Frederick having promised Peace to the Romans was very urgent with them of the two Popes to chuse the more worthy and to depose and reject the other which when Alexander knew must be done as the Emperour should please he embark'd in the Gallies and escap'd first to Gaieta and from thence to Benevent Frederick afterward was driven from the City by a Plague of which both Citizens and Soldiers died like Sheep and as he march'd back through Lombardy the Army of the Confederate Cities met him and urg'd him to a Battel which he carefully declin'd and arriv'd in Germany When he was departed the Associates built a City at their common charge near Roueretto upon the River Taro which from the name of the Pope they call'd Alexandria to inhabit which from all the Cities they sent fifteen thousand Men dividing the ground equally among 'em and setting out the dimensions of their Streets and Houses The Romans yet regretted the slaughter made among 'em by the Tusculans and their Friends and therefore upon the departure of Frederick they took Alba and demolish'd it and had done the like by Tusculum if the Pope had not terrified them with Threats and Anathema's from doing so great a mischief At this time Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople sent other Ambassadours with greater Promises than before if the Pope could be brought to comply with his desire to whom Alexander gave this Answer that he was not willing to unite what his Predecessors had thought good industriously to disjoin In the mean time Guy the Anti-Pope died in S. Peter's Church which was still strongly garrison'd by Frederick in whose room the seditious substituted John a Hungarian Abbat of Sirmio who had before the repute of a Thief to him Raino who was afraid of the Romans upon account of the mischief he had formerly done them deliver'd up Tusculum upon condition that he should have Monte-fiascone in lieu of it but when Raino went to take possession of it the Inhabitants would not receive him neither would the Tusculans submit to the Anti-Pope upon which he return'd to Tusculum but was forbidden entrance From thence therefore he went to Alexius who was then at Veruli and surrendred to him all his Title to the place which when the Tusculans heard upon mature deliberation by a publick Decree they acknowledg'd their subjection to the Pope and receiv'd him Here it was that the Ambassadours of Henry King of England were heard when they came to clear their King of the false Accusation of having conspir'd the death of S. Thomas Arch-bishop of Canterbury But the Pope not easily giving credit to the King's Ambassadours sent two Cardinals into England with plenary Power to examine the matter to whom Henry paid so great respect that though he was engag'd in a War with Ireland yet he came as far as Normandy to meet ' em Upon debating the case it came to this end that Henry should by an Oath because the matter of fact was not clear purge himself and promise to do Penance for the murther of that holy Man of which though he were not guilty nor conscious yet it seem'd that the great spite and grudg he bore him in his life-time had given some occasion to the assassination and moreover that he should raise and maintain two hundred Soldiers for a year to assist the Christians in the Holy Land that he should within three years himself with what force he could raise undertake an Expedition to the same purpose that he should conserve the Ecclesiastical immunities in his Realm and not oppose any Appeals that might be made by his Subjects to the Court of Rome All these Conditions he having sworn to perform he had and he deserv'd it the right and Title to the Crown of England confer'd upon him and his Heirs with the Pope's consent Hence it may be observ'd that all the English Kings acknowledg themselves to have receiv'd the Title to their Realms of the Pope of Rome But Alexander having long strugled with the Romans offered them if they would admit him into the City to leave the whole Civil Government to their own managery and to intermeddle onely in religious matters but this would not be granted by them so he retir'd to Segna and there being inform'd by the English Ambassadours of the Miracles wrought by S. Thomas Becket he canoniz'd him Frederick now returning into Italy by Moncenisi took Seculia by treachery and demolish'd it he took also Asti which surrendered for fear and laid close Siege four months to Alexandria but receiv'd so much loss from the Sallies of the besieged that he grew weary of it and on Easter day rose up from before it and went to Pavia where a Treaty for the peace of Italy was carried on by the mediation of the Pope which the Venetians were willing to embrace who though they had been favourers of Emanuel before yet had receiv'd from him a horrid affront contrary to the Law of Nations for he had with red hot plates of Brass blinded their Ambassadour Henry Dandalo by holding them before his Eyes Mean time Almeric King of Jerusalem raised his Siege from before Cairo though he was not without hopes of carrying the place but was bought off with a great sum of Money and afterward march'd against Ascalon but was forc'd to quit that Expedition being in great want of provisions and finding his Soldiers to be very much tired and broken with the great and tedious toils of War they had undergone He did not long outlive his return but died and left his Kingdom to his Son Baldwin who though he labour'd with a dangerous Leprosie yet he manag'd his Government with great constancy and Wisdom Alexander thinking now to enjoy a perfect Peace made the new City of Alexandria a Bishops Sea An. Dom. 1177. but soon after Frederick re-enters Italy with great Forces and put all into confusion till the Milaneses with the joint forces of the Confederates so broke his Troops with frequent Onsets that in one of them Frederick's Horse was kill'd under him and he narrowly scap'd with life himself many of those of Pavia and Como being on his side were lost The Bishop of Pavia also because he took the Emperour's part was by the Pope deprived of his Pall and the honour of bearing the Cross Frederic's great Men thought these mischiefs happen'd to 'em because they persecuted the Church of God and openly threatned to return into their own Country and leave that wicked Warfare except he would be reconcil'd to the Pope speedily A Treaty then was begun for the Peace of Italy when Saladine a Person of great courage succeeded Noradine then deceased in the Empire of the Saracens who having taken and slain the King of Egypt added that Country and Syria to his Dominion not that his success was alike when he fought with the Christians being defeated by Baldwin in two Battels one at Ascalon and another at Tiberias but
he had receiv'd so many benefits of the Holy Sea he gave the Country of Fondi to the Church of Rome and what had before been given and afterward usurp'd from it he restor'd But the Pope taking notice of the increase of the Saracens Power in Asia call'd a full Council in the Lateran where were present the Patriarchs of Jerusalem and Constantinople seventy Arch-bishops four hundred Bishops twelve Abbats eight hundred Priors of Convents and the Ambassadors of the Greek and Roman Emperours with those of the Kings of Jerusalem France Spain England and Cyprus Many things here came under debate but nothing could be determin'd because the Pisans and Genoeses were then at War by Sea as those of Lombardy were among themselves at Land The Pope therefore took a journey thitherward to compose their differences but died in the way at Perugia when he had been Pope eighteen years seven months and sixteen days He was a Man most exact in his life a proof of which is that none of his Acts which approv'd or disanull'd any thing were by any of his Successors revers'd He decreed many things for the reformation of manners both in Clergy and Laity and wrote Books concerning the Sacrament of the Eucharist the Sacrament of Baptism and the unhappiness of Mans condition beside that he was wont to make Sermons upon remarkable occasions and solemn days He disallow'd a Book written by Abbat Joachim which contain'd some Heterodox Opinions and condemn'd the Errors of Almericus a Heretic that with some of his followers was burnt at Paris who among other false Notions maintain'd that those Idea's which are in the divine Mind were created and did create others whereas according to S. Augustin there is nothing in the Mind of God but what is Eternal and unchangeable beside he said that to one who was in a state of Grace no Sin is charged Great satisfaction this Pope took in observing the Virtue and Learning of S. Dominic who was Founder of the Order of Preaching Friers and of S. Francis of Assisi who was Author of the Order of Friers Minors 'T is said that in his time liv'd Gratian who compil'd the Decrees and Papias the Lombard who collected a Latin Alphabetical Dictionary and indeed of Papias we have no reason to doubt but for Gratian some Authors place him in the times of Pope Alexander III. Now lest you should think that Innocent in so long a Popedom neglected works of Piety I must tell you that at his charge the Hospital of the Holy Ghost was built and endow'd with so fair an Income as it is for the relief of Pilgrims and sick People and for the Education of Fatherless Children and Foundlings He adorn'd S. Peter's Altar with Mosaic Work as the representation of him and his Cipher in the Arch do testifie Moreover he gave to each Church in Rome a Pound weight in Silver to make Chalices for Divine Service and he repair'd the Church of S. Sixtus then almost falling with age The Enemies of his good Name indeed say that he did this only for fear Men should say that he laid out all his Mony in building of the Torre de Conti which he erected for the honour of his Family However that be 't is certain he shew'd himself in all the parts of his life an excellent Man and one worthy to be reckon'd among the best Popes HONORIVS III. HONORIVS the Third a Roman Son of one Almeric was by a general suffrage chosen Pope to whom Peter Emperour of Constantinople coming with his Wife Jole he was Crown'd in the Church of S. Laurence without the Walls and immediately John Colonna a Cardinal was pitch'd upon to go into Asia with those forces which Pope Innocent in his life-time had got together for that end The Christian Princes by the persuasion of Honorius now went to Acon particularly Andrew King of Hungary who to that purpose borrow'd the Venetian Shipping and by way of requital passed over to 'em the right to all that part of Dalmatia which had been in the possession of the Duke of Austria With Andrew went Henry Count of Nevers and Walter Chamberlain to the King of France All these holding a Council of War together with John King of Jerusalem they resolv'd to lay Siege to Damiata in Egypt and thither they went in the month of May 1218. This City was once call'd Aeliopolis from Aelius Pertinax who environ'd it with a trebble Wall and deriving a little stream of the Nile about it made it stand in an Island The Suburbs hereof were large and full of Merchandize which the Christian Soldiers plunder'd but soon after upon a West-wind the Nile rose so high that their Provisions were spoil'd and they began to be in great want of necessaries especially because the Soldan who was encamp'd not far off had beset all the passages to hinder any supplies coming to ' em The Christians under this difficulty march their Army against the Soldan who in great fear streight leaves his Camp stor'd with plenty of all things and retreats leaving them free to besiege the Town which he at first came to relieve Cordirius also Son to the great Soldan despairing of being able to defend Jerusalem if the Christians took Damiata broke down the Walls of the City and left nothing standing but the Tower of David and the Temple of God only he did not violate the Holy Sepulcre mov'd as we may suppose by the intreaties of the Christians that inhabited those places While our men attack'd Damiata the Soldan returns with a much greater Army and pitches his Camp between Cairo and Damiata from which he could not be provok'd to Battel by either the challenges or reproaches of our Men which so enrag'd the French that without any Order they set upon him and receiv'd great loss Notwithstanding all this the Siege was still push'd on till after fifteen months lying before it it was taken by the Christians and sack'd so that the Soldiery was wonderfully enrich'd with the spoil In the mean time Honorius had at Rome confirm'd the Order of S. Dominic upon his request and had Anathematiz'd Frederic II. because after his Mother Constantia was dead who was wont to restrain him within his duty he came to Rome and without right or reason laid wast the Pope's Territories These differences between the Pope and the Emperour being discover'd to the Soldan mov'd him to take the opportunity and accordingly he raises a greater Army than ever he had before thinking the Christians would not now shew their heads but Cardinal John Colonna roused them with his persuasions so that they took up Arms and went to meet the Enemy at the Nile where when they were come the Soldan feign'd himself afraid to cope with 'em putting it off till the time of the Increase of Nile which follow'd a little while after and the Cataracts of that River opened and so overflow'd the whole Country that it was in no place less than a
taken from the Church during the time of the last Sede Vacante on conditions that he should hold those Lands of the Church with obligation of assisting the Pope with a certain number of men to be ready at his command when his occasions should require and in case at any time he acted any thing to the damage and prejudice of the Church that then he should incur severe Forfeitures and Penalties and lose his Investiture and be actually deprived of all those Liberties Immunities and Rights to which he pretended and laid a claim After these Affairs the Pope re-assumed the thoughts so often meditated by his Predecessors of driving the French out of Italy the which was also greatly desired by the Emperor Charles on supposition that the matter was practicable and easie in case they could induce the Venetians to separate from the French King to incline them hereunto Embassadors were dispatched from the Emperor and the King of England who at the same time sent a Herald to denounce War against the French King in case he would not make a Truce with the Emperor in all parts of the world for three years in which also the Pope the Duke of Milan and the Florentines were to be comprehended The pretence of this Truce was grounded on agreement of all Christian Princes to turn their Forces against the Turk who was now grown formidable in Hungary to which place Cardinal Cajetan war sent his Legate with a supply of fifty thousand Crowns to carry on that War But this design was disappointed by a discovery made by some Letters intercepted by Cardinal Julio de Medicis wrote from Francis Soderino one of the old Cardinals and much trusted by the Pope in all his secrets to Francis the first King of France wherein he persuaded him to invade the Kingdom of Sicily laying down the Plot and Design as easie and hopeful The Pope being greatly moved and enraged against Soderino who was Cardinal of Volterra for this perfidious disturbance of the quiet of Italy and disappointment of the Holy War greatly inveighed against him in a full Assembly of the Cardinals and afterwards committed him Prisoner to the Castle Soderino's Letters were then produced and read being full of reflections on the Pope saying That he was a person to whom no Faith or Credence could be given for tho he pretended the quiet and peace of Italy and the benefit of the Church yet he designed it no farther than was consistent with the advancement of his own Charles the Emperor to whose concernmentr all other considerations were to yield and give place The Pope took measures of the affections of all the other Cardinals by this character which Soderino had given of him and believing them to be all of the same humor entertained a like jealousie and suspicion of the Cardinals in general so that he made Confidents of none but of such men only as were of his own Country his Secretaries that were most intimate with him and privy to all his designs and secrets were William Eikenwort whom he had made Chief Datary and Bishop of Tortosa and the only Cardinal created by him and Theodorick Hetius both Dutch-men and John Rufus who had been his old Acquaintants and Creatures by whose counsels and advice he contrived and acted all matters which had relation to the Government and seldom communicated his Counsels and designs to the College but only to his Dutch-men whom he often praised for their sincere and real intentions without â—â—aud or artifice and for being truly faithful to the Church and loyal to him This ill correspondence between the Pope and his Cardinals was augmented by the offence he gave to the College by disanulling all the Acts and Ordinances they had made during the vacancy of the See and before he came to Rome which being made in favour to themselves and for their own benefit he made void for the greater good and emolument of the Church revoking and taking into his hands those Benefices which the Cardinals had out of favour and courtesie voted and bestowed on each other and such Offices as Pope Leo the tenth had conferred on able and good men in reward of their Learning and Virtue he took away to raise mony wherewith to supply and satisfie the urgent necessities of the Church This manner of proceeding added to the fuel of the last discontents made Adrian appear not only distrustful but covetous in a high degree and every day seem more odious and wearisome to the Clergy and Grandees of Rome of which the Pope being sensible would often say that the happy conjuncture of Affairs was greatly conducing to a Prince who desired to illustrate his Virtues and Actions to the most advantage witness the happy state of affairs in the time of the late Pope Leo which were so flourishing and chearful that they seemed to be the golden days which afterwards by that licentiousness which was crept into Rome during the long vacancy of the Sea and absence of this Pope were changed and altered by a total corruption of manners to which a contagion of Pestilence supervening joyned with Famine and War which greatly afflicted Italy the miseries of men caused them to retort their remembrances on the late more chearful days of Leo and by such unreasonable comparisons to pass a judgment between the Wisdom and Worth of Leo and Adrian making the unavoidable miseries of those times a matter and subject of odium and detestation of the present Pope tho in reality he was a person of a severe life of great temperance and desirous to reform abuses which were crept into the Church and correct and severely chastise the dissolute manners in the City such as Simony Extortion and Sodomy to which end he called to his assistance Caraffa Arch-Bishop of Chieti and Marcello Gazella of Gaeta both persons of gravity and sobriety and of singular Wisdom and Learning with whom he consulted touching a reformation of manners and amendment of abuses and to set by his own example rules of moderation and temperance he appeared extremely severe towards his own Relations and Kindred an instance whereof he gave in his deportment towards a Cousin of his whom he having setled in his Studies at Siena came one time from thence to Rom without the order or command of the Pope at which he conceived so much anger that he presently returned him back again on a hired Horse reproving and telling him that he should learn modesty and temperance by his example several Relations also of his being in a mean condition travelled afoot through Germany and came to Rome in expectation of arising to some considerable Preferments but he disappointed them of their hopes and returned them back again with no greater largess than a plain Suit of Cloth to each and with so much mony as might serve to bear their charges and expences back into their own Country And in this manner whilst Adrian was intent to introduce honesty of life and
after that Controversie had been opened heard and examined by many Doctors and Testimonies and Writings produced the Emperor according to the counsel and report made him pronounced that Modena and Reggio appertained of right to the Duke of Ferrara who paying a hundred thousand Ducats to the Pope the Tributes should be reduced to their ancient custom and he invested in the Jurisdiction of Ferrara But the Pope would neither allow that part of the Sentence nor accept the payment of the mony wherein the Duke was condemned refusing the Tribute which was offered to him according to the usual custom so that there was neither open War nor a setled Peace between the Pope and the Duke of Ferrara for having a regard and some respect to the Emperors Award and Sentence he feared to assail him with open force contriving in the mean time secret plots and devices wherewith to ensnare him Matters thus continued with some tranquillity until the year 1532. which was more signal for Forein Wars than for the Commotions of Italy For Francis the French King not forgetting the sufferings he had sustained by the Emperor contrived all ways imaginable for his revenge not being scrupulous or ashamed of secret practices and treaties with Soliman Emperor of the Turks in despight of his Title of Most Christian to stir him up and incite him to a War against Charles the Emperor inviting him to make a second attempt by laying siege to Vienna Soliman being full of anger and disdain for the late foil he had received before that City was easily persuaded to try his fortune in another Expedition but the Princes and Free Towns of Germany concurring with their Forces and uniting them to the Imperial Troops composed a most formidable Army which being conducted by Charles the Emperor who was the greatest Captain of his age and his name terrible to the Turks Soliman made only some incursions into Hungary and then returned again to Constantinople But before this news came and whilst these things were in action Henry VIII King of England and Francis the French King being both highly displeased with the Emperor met together at Boloign in France where they held several Consultations how to improve the present state of Affairs to their own advantage And giving it for granted that the Turk would Winter in Hungary and afford the Emperor sufficient employment for the year following they resolved to make use of this conjuncture of Affairs to their mutual benefit in pursuance of which it was determined between them that the French King was to invade the State of Milan and the Pope was to be induced to assist in the same design and to determin the cause of Divorce of Queen Catharine in favour of King Henry then depending in the Court of Rome with which message and instructions the Cardinals of Ternon and Gramont were sent Embassadors to the Pope But King Henry having not the patience to attend the result contemned the authority of a Divorce by the Papal Power contenting and satifying his own Conscience with what had before been disputed and determined in the Courts of England about that matter and having understood that the Legate Campeius had been sent into England with a Bull of Divorce which afterwards upon change of the Pope's mind he had burnt the King was so enraged thereat that he resolved not to have farther dealings with the Pope and thereupon Proclamation was published that no person of what estate or condition soever should purchase or attempt to purchase from the Court of Rome any thing prejudicial to the Jurisdiction or Prerogative of this Realm upon pain of Imprisonment or other punishment according to the pleasure of the King But the retirement of the Turks out of Hungary put a period to the design of Invading the Dutchy of Milan and to the expectation the King of England had of receiving a favourable sentence at Rome in the point of Divorce for the result of the Interview of these two Kings being known at Rome hastned the Pope to make a League with the Emperor which was concluded at a second meeting at Bologna where the same Ceremonies and terms of amity and friendship passed between them as had been formerly at the first After which the Emperor by the way of Genoua passed into Spain and the Pope returned to Rome accompanied thither by the two Cardinals Ternon and Gramont the which according to their Commission insisted greatly to have the Divorce of Queen Catharine confirmed by the Popes Authority alledging the great damage and ruine that an obstinate persistance to the contrary might bring to the Church but the Cardinals of the Emperors Faction labouring to the contrary and the Pope understanding what Henry had already acted in that point in England issued an Excommunication against him and his whole Realm unless before the end of September following he did revoke all the Acts he had made to the prejudice of the Apostolical Sea and the Papal Authority These French Cardinals finding their Negotiations in reference to England to be unsuccessful and desperate treated notwithstanding an interview between the Pope and the French King to be held at Marseille colouring their design with the specious pretence of finding some expedient to accommodate matters between King Henry and the Pope a Charity so great and Christian and of that high importance as might challenge the labors and endeavours of the most Christian King and farther it was pretended that a League and Union between the Christian Princes was there to be negotiated against the Turk But the desire of the Pope being in reallity to marry his Niece Catharine de Medicis to the second Son of the King of France was easily persuaded to condescend to a proposition so agreeable to his own inclinations in pursuance whereof the Pope with a great retinue of Cardinals Embarked at Pisa on his own Gallies and in a few days of prosperous Navigation he landed at Marseille where being saluted with three hundred pieces of Cannon at his arrival he was lodged for the first night in the Palace of the Duke of Montmorency Grand Master and Mareschal of France The next day he made his entry through the City habited in his Pontifical Vestments and carried in his Chair upon mens shoulders before him a White Horse was led by two men with silken Reins carrying the Sacrament of the Altar then followed the Cardinals in their Habits mounted upon their Mules after which came Catharine de Medicis Dutchess of Vrbin attended with a great number of Ladies and Gentlemen both of the French and Italian Nation in which equipage the Pope passed the Streets to the Lodgings which were provided for him The day following the French King came and with great solemnity went to perform the Offices of Duty and Obedience to the Pope These Solemnities and Ceremonies being past matters of publick concernment were in the first place taken into consideration by those who were by the King and
oblige the King referred the disquisition and examination of the Marriage to the Cardinal Joyeuse the Bishop of Modena who was Nuntio for the Pope in France and the Arch-bishop of Arles whom he delegated to consider of those reasons which were offered to invalidate the legality of the Marriage In the mean time Henry treating a Contract of marriage with his Mistris Gabriele d' Estrees God disposed otherwise of that intention and the Delegates who were willing to comply with the desires of the King declared the Marriage Null having been in the third degree of consanguinity by which both parties were set at liberty and put in the same estate and condition as before their Matrimony Of which the King having received information from his Ambassadour Monsieur de Sillery then residing at Rome he immediately dispatched the Sieur d' Alincourt Governour of Pontois to render his humble thanks to the Pope for his obliging determination and to demand his Counsel concerning the Alliance which he intended to make with the House de Medicis having placed his affections on the Princess Mary Niece to the Grand Duke of Florence The Sieur de Sillery taking Post upon this Errand arrived at Rome the 6th of February being Ash-wednesday in the year 1600. and the year of Jubilee which made that Lent the more Solemn and devout than that of common years for it was commanded that Prayers of forty hours continuance should be made in the Churches of the Jesuits the Pope himself with the Colledg of Cardinals began the first hour and every hour afterwards was employed in Prayers and ended with an Exhortation made by some Cardinal or Learned Prelat To gain the Indulgences of this Jubilee though many personages of great quality did resort to Rome yet none was of higher dignity than the Duke de Bar who Incognito and with a small train and equipage travelled to Rome to gain a Dispensation for his Marriage which he had celebrated between himself and the Princess Catharine the Onely Sister of the French King for having performed the same within the degrees of consanguinity forbidden by the Church the Bishop of Lorain and others had refused to admit him to the Sacrament and Communion of the Church Thus we see whilest the King sues for a Divorce the Duke desires a confirmation and dispensation of his Marriage and both were granted though the same reasons and considerations were in both cases the same ground which might dissolve the one might null the other and the same salve might serve for both Cures In short the Duke de Bar applyed himself with all the humility and submission imaginable to the Papal Chair and carrying with him the King 's recommendatory Letters to the Cardinals Aldobrandino Ossac and his Ambassadour he obtained as much favour in his Cause as he could expect or desire On the other side in pursuance of the late Divorce the Sieurs de Sillery and Alincourt went to Florence to treat a new Marriage between the King and the Princess Mary de Medicis As the Duke of Florence received the honour of this Match with great readiness it being an addition to the grandeur of his House so the Pope to forward the same contributed on his part a hundred thousand Crowns with many Jewels by way of Dowry or Portion which was agreed to be six hundred thousand Crowns in ready Mony So soon as the Articles were signed the Duke of Florence published the intended Marriage and the King to bring it to a consummation being then at Lions in order to his Journey to Grenoble deputed Bellegarde his Grand Escuyer with Commission to the Grand Duke to espouse Mary de Medicis in his name and the Pope to have a farther hand in this work deputed his Nephew Cardinal Aldobrandino to be his Legat at Florence and to be present at the Nuptials which he accordingly performed and bestowed the Benediction in the Pope's Name The Cardinal having performed this piece of service hastned away by order of the Pope to Tortona there to find the Duke and stipulate with him the conditions of a firm Peace for the King had already commenced a War and taken several places both in Savoy and Bresse The Cardinal representing before the Duke the danger and inequality of a War with France persuaded him to resign his pretensions and interest to the Marquisat of Saluses and having obtained this promise he proceeded to Lions where managing this Affair with the King a Peace was concluded and published in the year 1601. on Conditions that the Duke should quit all claim to the Marquisat of Saluces in exchange for Bresse and some other Countries In the mean time the Queen embarqued at Ligorne with seventeen Gallies arrived happily at Marseille and thence was conducted with great honour and pomp to Lions where meeting with the King the marriage was consummated and the Nuptial Benediction given by Cardinal Aldobrandino the Pope's Legat before the great Altar of St. John's Church in the City of Lions All these kindnesses passed between the Pope and the King the Pope resolved to make use of this good Correspondence to intercede in behalf of the Jesuits whose whole Order having for certain reasons been banished and exterminated from the Dominions of France was now at the instance and desire of the King restored again under certain Conditions to their possessions and habitations in that Kingdom And in regard the Emperor was at the same time hardly pressed by the Turk the Pope as at other times furnished him with a hundred thousand Crowns which was a seasonable Recruit and supply in those exegencies of the Empire And now it was about the year 1603. that Elizabeth Queen of England dying and James VI. King of Scotland succeeding to the Crown when the Pope conceived great hopes and expectations that by means of this King whom he fancied to be a favourer of the Roman Church the Kingdoms of Great Britain would submit unto and acknowledg the Papal Authority but what ground or reasons there were for such an Opinion or why the Roman Catholicks in England had conceived and for forty years together had framed such a fancy to themselves no rational account can be given but this conceit soon vanishing by the contrary effects which appeared the Papists of England made two Remonstrances to the new King in favour of their Religion desiring at least that a liberty of Conscience might be granted to them but these had no more effect than the Declaration which the Protestants made the same year in favour of their Religion in France The Cardinals Bonvisi and Ossac dying this year at Rome Henry the French King did greatly urge the Pope for a promotion of Cardinals recommending several of his own Creatures and Friends to that Dignity And though the Pope was very desirous to have reduced the Order of Cardinals to their ancient number yet being overcome by the instances of some Friends he bestowed a Cardinals Cap on the
case or to find out the truth of the matter under debate For Popes in the Consistory are always sure to find the Cardinals pliant and ready to yield assent unto whatsoever they propose that is Assentiri in Assentari The Consistory being risen the Monitory was affixed in all the publick places of Rome of which a multitude of Copies both in Latin and Italian were printed and dispatched into all the Cities of Italy especially into the Dominions of Venice and dispersed into all parts by the Jesuits accompanied with seditious Letters and Pamphlets derogatory to the honour of the Republick The Monitory was directed to the Patriarchs Arch-bishops Bishops Vicars and all Ecclesiastics either Secular or Regular who held any Dignities and preferments of the Church within the Dominion of Venice and therein it was exposed That whereas some Months past he was given to understand that is the Pope how that the Doge and Senate of Venice had for many years past made several Decrees in prejudice of the Apostolical Sea and priviledges of the Church notwithstanding that the same were repugnant to the General Councils and to the antient Canons and Constitutions of the Popes of Rome and now more lately a Law was made in the year 1602. whereby Ecclesiastical persons are incapacitated to appropriate to themselves any Lands or Estates Secondly He mentioned the Law made in the year 1603. which restrains and prohibits the erecting or building any Churches or religious Houses without the leave or license of the Senate Thirdly He mentioned the Law in 1605. which extends these Laws over all the Dominions of the Republick which formerly were terminated to the City of Venice onely and lastly the imprisonment of the Canon of Vicenza and the Abbot of Nervesa by which particular offences the Ecclesiastical liberty being infringed the Doge and Senate of Venice have to the danger of their own Souls and scandal of the World incurred the Ecclesiastical Censures to the forfeiture of their Lands and Jurisdiction from which they cannot be absolved but by the Pope himself who being satisfied with their repentance demonstrated by a repeal of those Laws and restauration of all things to their pristine condition hath the sole power to receive them again into the bosom of the Church And whereas the Doge and Senate after many fatherly Admonitions have not repealed those Laws nor released the Prisoners he could in no wise suffer that the liberties and immunities of the Church and the Authority of the Apostolical Sea should be violated and infringed And though those Laws are in themselves void and of none effect yet by the example of ten Popes and more his Predecessours in confirmation hereof and by and with the consent and counsel of the Cardinals with whom he had advised hereupon he doth farther declare those Laws to be null and cancelled and doth farther declare and denounce Excommunication against the Doge and Senate in general in such manner as if they had been particularly named and against their Successours Councellours Adherents and Abettors in case the said Doge and Senate shall not within the space of twenty four days after the publication hereof assigning eight days for each term of Admonition repeal cancel and make void the aforesaid Decrees with all Writs and Orders proceeding thereupon and without farther delay or Excuse shall not restore all things to their former and original condition with promise never to do or perform the like again And shall not consign into the hands of his Nuntio both the Canon and the Abbot giving advice and notice of all unto the Pope himself and for default thereof the Excommunication to remain in force from whence no Absolution can be granted but by the Pope himself unless at the point of death from which State in case the person so absolved shall recover and still continue and persist in the same obstinacy he shall again be liable to the same Excommunication as before and in case he die his body notwithstanding shall not be interred in any consecrated place until obedience be yielded unto these Commands by all others concerned And in case after the expiration of twenty four days the Doge and Senate shall still persist in their contumacy for other three days then he did Interdict all their Dominion forbidding all Masses and divine Offices to be performed therein unless in such places manner and cases as are granted by the Common Law And farther he did deprive the Doge and Senate of all their Revenue and possessions which they hold of the Roman Church or other Churches and of all the priviledges granted them in favour thereof reserving still unto himself and his Successours a Power to aggravate and encrease the Censures and penalties against them their Adherents and Abettors therein c. And to proceed unto farther punishments and Remedies in case of continuance in such like contumacy Notwithstanding c. Commanding all Patriarchs Arch-bishops and Bishops and other Inferiour Clergy upon penalty c. That after the receipt of these Letters or notice thereof given that they publish the same in the respective Churches at such times as when the greatest concourse of people is present and to affix the same at the Church doors c. After publication was made of this severe Excommunication thundered out against a Republick of such greatness and esteem in the World all the Ambassadours and Ministers of foreign Princes residing at Rome were greatly troubled and concerned considering that an Act of this nature had some oblique reflection on every Prince that professed obedience or devotion for the Papal Sea Wherefore every one of those Ministers residing at Rome made their applications and addresses to the Pope desiring him to moderate and prorogue the Sentence until the matter were examined and considered by the Republick and ways or means contrived for an accommodation To whom the Pope returned this general Answer That the way to compose and accommodate these differences were to incline the Republick to a resolution of becoming obedient but that word Obedient would not well pass with the Ministers who made some reflections thereon as unbeseeming the degree of Sovereign Princes and therefore persuaded the Pope rather to use some more moderate and gentle terms and enlarge the time allotted for termination of the Sentence The news hereof being come to Venice the Senate immediately and in the first place ordered that Prayers should be made in all Churches and Chappels imploring the Divine assistance in that great emergency of Affairs and in the next place they resolved to recall their Ambassadour Extraordinary from Rome leaving Nani to reside there lest they should seem to despise and stand in open defiance against the Apostolical Sea Sir Henry Wotton was at that time Resident for the King of England at Venice when the Senate thought fit to communicate to him the rigour of the Pope's Sentence for until then they had never mentioned any thing with him of their Controversie
gave Orders to all his People to treat the Ambassadour and his Retinue with all kindness and due respect and moreover wrote a Letter to the Pope complaining of the late design of his Nuntio attempting to publish Ecclesiastical Censures against forein Princes within his Kingdom which was a new and an unknown practice within his State and had been refused in the Case of Henry III. King of France and in the Cause of Cesare d' Este Duke of Ferrara much less could he be induced to allow of such proceedings against the State of Venice whose Cause was the same with that of his own Kingdom And considering that that State had merited well of Christendom by the opposition they made with their Arms against the common Enemy he exhorted his Holiness to supersede farther proceedings for Causes which ought to be stifled and which for better peace of the Church ought never to be brought into question or Dispute Francis Soranzo a Cavalier of Venice being at this time Ambassadour at the Emperor's Court did rightly inform the Imperial Ministers with the true state of the difference between the Pope and that Republick and in regard the Constitutions of all Germany were the same they could not do less than approve the Cause of the Venetians and condemn the Cause of the Pope which confirmed the Protestants in their reasons which they alledged for detaining Ecclesiastical Benefices in their own hands Howsoever the Great Chancellour and Marshal Prainer were of different Opinions taking part with the Pope against the affections sence and Interest of the whole Court When news came first to the Court of Spain of the differences between the Pope and the Venetians the constancy and firmness of that State to the Principles of their Government was highly applauded being the common Cause of all Secular Princes Howsoever the Nuntio made it his business to have the Venetian Ambassadour declared in all Pulpits to be under Excommunication The Genoeses also who were powerful in that Court being touched with envy on old grudges and for having lately yielded that Point of their liberty to the Pope which Venice still conserved did all the ill offices they were able against the Republick but above all the Ambassadour of Tuscany joyning with the Jesuits shewed himself an open Enemy and so prevailed with the King and Council that a Congregation of twelve Divines was held at Madrid in presence of the Cardinal of Toledo to consider whether the Ambassadour of Venice ought to be admitted into the Church at the time of Celebration of Divine Offices the result of which was that the Ambassadour should not be excluded every one concurring in that Opinion the Nuntio and Jesuits onely excepted So soon as the news came to Paris that the Monitory was published against Venice Barberino the Pope's Nuntio made urgent addresses to the King that Priuli the Venetian Ambassadour should be excluded from admission into the Church but his desire was positively rejected both because the King was willing to remain Neuter and because it was and is a Maxim of that Kingdom That Popes have no power over the Temporal Government of Princes and have no Authority on account for Secular matters to proceed against them or their Officers by Ecclesiastical Censures In England we may easily imagine what Opinion was conceived of these proceedings for when Giustiniano the Ambassadour of Venice had acquainted King James with the state of the difference between the Pope and the Republick the King did much applaud the Laws and Constitutions of Venice and the constancy and resolution of the Senate in the maintenance of them adding That he would gladly see a free Council established which was the onely means to reform the Church of God and put an end to all Controversies amongst Christians which had no other original or source than onely from the usurpation of Popes and ambition of the Clergy in which holy and sacred Design he did not doubt but that the French King and all other Christian Princes would readily concur and that perhaps a beginning thereof might arise from these troubles and labours of the Republick And farther the King added That the Popes exalting themselves above God were the ruin of the Church and that it was no wonder that their Pride admitted of no serious reflections or moderate advices being puffed up and elated by the common adulation and flattery which was used towards them The States of the Vnited Provinces wrote very obliging Letters to Venice proffering to assist them with Arms and Provisions in case they came to an open rupture and acts of hostility with the Pope In the mean time many effectual good Offices were performed both at Rome and Venice by the Dukes of Mantoua and Savoy and by Guicciardin Ambassadour of the Great Duke of Tuscany and more especially by Monsieur de Fresnes the French Ambassadour at Venice To all which instances and applications from several Princes the Senate thought fit to make this general Answer First they returned thanks for the good endeavours and labours towards a Mediation and then complained of the firm resolutions of the Pope which could not be shaken or made plyable by any reasonable terms which the Republick could offer That there could be no hopes of accommodation until the Pope by taking off his Censures did open a way to Treaties and terms of Peace That the Pope had proceeded so far in his injuries and affronts as were past all manner of reconciliation and yet the Republick which was truly Catholick would still bear their due respect to the Pope so far as was consistent with their liberty and with that right of Government which was committed to them by God But whilest matters were thus in Treaty at Venice and Rome and in the Courts of Princes the Jesuits who were vigilant and intent to do all the mischiefs they were able against the Republick did not cease to disperse Scandals and Libels as well without Italy as within and to preach and rail against them in their Pulpits and Schools endeavouring to possess their Auditories with the most malicious impressions they could beget or frame in minds of Men they also wrote Letters into all places defaming the Republick some who would not adventure into the Dominions of Venice treated on the Confines with their Disciples and Votaries and others in disguise entered within the Dominions sowing Division and Faction in all parts promising extraordinary Indulgences to all such as should observe the Interdict They also forged several Letters entitling one from the Republick of Genoua to the Senate of Venice another from the City of Verona to the City of Brescia which were most scandalous and abominable Papers Then in other Writings they justified themselves for having in their Sermons inveighed against the Republick calling it a Lutheran Heretical and tyrannical Government with infinite other abominable Epithets In fine it was proved that the Jesuits were the causes of all these disturbances having instigated the
differences And whereas this Republick hath always endeavoured to maintain a perfect good understanding with the Apostolical Chair so now more especially it remains satisfied in having at length obtained this their most just desire of which it is thought fit to give them notice Adding farther That all matters being performed on both sides which were most equal and the censures taken off the Protest also was revoked In the Evening the Senate assembled for choice of an Ambassadour to be sent to Rome and reside with his Holiness the Person elected was the Cavalier Contarini who in Company with three others had formerly been employed to congratulate with the Pope for his assumption to the Papal Chair and herewith ended this great Controversie between the Pope and the Venetians which had disturbed all Christendom and might have been the ruin and destruction of the Papal Authority had not the Pope wisely in time been made sensible thereof and granted every thing almost which the Venetians required In the beginning and progress of this whole matter we may observe the spirit of this Paul V. who aspired to make himself as great as Sixtus V. and seemed to follow much of his way and method but he undertok an Enterprise which was too difficult and out of his power his Errour in which was grounded on a mistake that he was better able to cope or deal with a Republick than with a Monarch for that the first being composed of divers Heads and humours might sooner admit a division in Councils than in a single person and that many of them being zealous and most of them superstitious in Religion might be affected by Ecclesiastical Censures and terrified by Excommunications But the contrary was made to appear by the effects which most evidently have signalized the Wisdom and Constancy of this Republick which would never be obliged to become pliant and flexible by all the fires of Hell and damnation which the Pope could threaten And indeed it farther appears that as the Republick was of Opinion that the Censures of the Pope were invalid when they were not established on just and legal causes so likewise they believed that they could not depart from the least scruple of their temporal Power which God had given them without betraying that Trust which God had committed to their charge and herein they were so resolute and constant that lest they should seem to acknowledg a fault in any one step of the late transactions they would not so much as accept of the Cardinals Blessing lest it should seem to be given in form of Absolution This Controversie being ended which had hitherto allayed all the joy and contentment which the Pope conceived for his late exaltation to the Papal Dignity the Venetians in pursuance of the Articles agreed dispatched the four Ambassadours to Rome namely Francisco Molino Procurator of St. Mark John Mocenigo Peter Dudo Francisco Contareno all Knights and Senatours of Chief Renown whom the Pope received with all imaginable honour being overjoyed to have put an end to a business so full of danger to himself and in which his measures having failed him he no longer argued in defence of his Cause nor entertained the Ambassadours with Expostulations concerning matters past which having had little foundation in any reasons he was desirous to pretermit and to have buried in silence Soon after the promotion of this Pope in the Month of November 1605. that diabolical Plot of the Gun-powder Treason to blow up the King and Queen of England all the Nobles and Commons assembled in Parliament was happily and by God's immediate Providence discovered the particulars of which being recorded in our Chronicles and believed to have been contrived at Rome we shall not need to relate in this place onely that King James for security of himself and his Dominions issued forth a Proclamation commanding all Roman Priests Seminaries and Jesuits as being the chief Incendiaries of troubles to depart the Kingdom of England and not to return upon pain of the severity of those Laws which were made against them as also all Recusants to return home to their Dwellings and not to remain in London or come within ten miles of the Court without special License After which Proclamation the Oath of Allegiance was presently administred to all sorts of people and their names certified to the Lords of the Council who refused to take it The form of this Oath administred to the Recusants in England was brought to Rome and examined and discussed by the College of Cardinals who after mature and serious deliberation did unanimously concur that the said Oath could not be lawfully taken by any true Catholick with a safe Conscience Wherefore the Pope signified so much by his Brief exhorting his people in England to refuse the said Oath and with patience constancy and faith to suffer those persecutions which for this cause were laid upon them In the year 1607. the King of Congo sent an Ambassadour to this Pope called Anthony Emanuel Vunthi for so the Jesuits and other Missionaries into those parts had named him he was received honourably at Rome where the Pope promised to furnish him with several learned and godly Preachers which should return with him into his own Country and there labour to encrease and propagate the Gospel but this Ambassadour falling sick soon after his arrival at Rome was buried in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore and with him ceased the design of sending Apostles into those parts Howsoever the Arch-Bishop of Goa in imitation of the late Ambassadour from Congo procured Letters from the King of Persia to this Pope dated at Spahaun the 20th day of January 1608. and were afterwards followed by an Ambassadour called Ali Golikek Mordar who arrived at Rome in the year 1609. and was received into the Vatican where the Pope sate on his Throne and on each side the Cardinals in form and manner of a Consistory Those Writers who favour the Papal Cause pretend that the King of Persia sent then to acknowledg Obedience to the Pope who for that cause returned solemn thanks to God for having enlightned those remote parts with the rays of his Gospel and that the Sun of Righteousness was arisen in those parts after so long a Night of obscure Gentilism and false Religion But the success of following times proved the mistake of this matter the King 's of Persia continuing still in the Doctrine of their Prophet Ali and therefore it may with more reason be asserted and believed that this Ambassadour from Persia was sent in favour and at the instigation of some of the Persian Subjects who were or had been Christians of the Armenian Church which by some Friers crept in amongst them had been seduced from their own to the Roman Church which was not difficult to perform if we consider the poverty of those poor Armenians who were easily inclined to the profession of that Faith upon promises of preferments in the Church so that
limited 205. dignified with the Title of Eminence 278 Casimir King of Poland 3 Castagna John Battista created Pope by the name of Vrban VII 205 Castro utterly demolish'd with an Inscription 315 Charles King of Spain 33. Emperour 39. Crown'd 61. renounces his Imperial Dignity 116 Charles VIII of France assists the Pope 10. claims the Kingdom of Naples and enters Italy 13. gains and loses Naples 14. dies ibid. Charles IX King of France 126 Chigi Fabio created Pope under the name of Alexander VII 321 Christina Queen of Sweden 319. abjures the Reformed Religion and comes to Rome 327 Cibo John Battista made Pope with the name of Innocent VIII 8 Colonneses and Vrsini a fewd between 'em 9. reconcil'd 10. both suffer much from Caesar Borgia 16. Colonneses vigorous Imperialists 52 Congo an Embassie from thence to the Pope 262 Conventus the word gives offence at the Council of Trent 94 Congregation for propagating the faith instituted 270 Cortesans used unkindly by Pius V. 158 Council against the Pope's mind appointed at Pisa 25. Another call'd at the Lâ—teran 25. that at Pisa declar'd a Conventicle 27. its acts and decrees abjur'd 31 General Council indicted at Mantua 7â— then at Vicenza ibid. after all at Trent 78. begun there 80. prorogu'd to Bologna 85. transferr'd to Trent 90.93 debates there 94 to 103. prorogu'd for two years 104. renew'd 125.127 transactions there from 128 to 156. Cranmer Arch bishop of Canterbury depriv'd 111 Duke of Crequi the French Ambassadour affronted at Rome 332. a quarrel thereupon 333 to 340 Cyprus demanded by the Turks of the Venetians 160. invaded and taken by them 161 D Dalmatia invaded by the Turks 75 D'aubusson Master of Rhodes 6 Denmark the Pope's Nuntio denied admittance there by the King 126 Diet at Regenspurg 77. at Noremberg 80. at Worms 82. at Auspurg 85 Divorce of Henry VIII and Queen Katharine debated 59. Of Henry IV. of France and Margaret Dutchess of Valois 221. Of Alphonso of Portugal and his Queen 351 E Elizabeth Queen of England denies admittance to the Pope's Nuntio 126. Excommunicated 159 and deposed by the Pope 162. well esteem'd by Sixtus V. 182. yet much hated 197 Eminence the Title bestowed on Cardinals when 278 England the States of Affairs there upon throwing off subjection to the Pope 74. returning to its Obedience how ordered by the Pope 111 F Fachinetti Cardinal chosen Pope and nam'd Innocent IX 210 Faenza taken by the Venetians 22 Farnese Alexander Pope under the name of Paul III. 67 Farnese Prince Alexander a Commander against the Turks 165. Governour of Flanders 197 Ferdinand I. King of Naples defeated by the Pope's Forces 6. makes War again 9. violates his faith 10. his death 13. Ferdinand II. quits his Kingdom 14 Ferdinand of Spain honour'd with the Title of Catholic King 13 Ferrara the Dukedom devolves to the Church 215 Fisher Bishop of Rochester made a Cardinal 68 Florence surrendred to the Imperialists 62 Florentines favour the House of Medici against the Pope 5. join with the King of Naples 9 Franche Compte seiz'd upon by the French King 349 Francis I. King of France 31. taken Prisoner 48. maintains unchristian correspondences with the Turks 63 Francis II. K. of France 118. dies 126 Friers Mendicant and Secular Priests a Dispute between 'em determin'd 4 G Gaston de Foix a French Commander slain 26 Geneva the City hated by the Pope 124 Genoa taken by the French 88. the Magistracy there give offence to Paul V. 229 Ghisler Anthony made Pope by the name of Pius V 157 Gonsalvo a brave Commander recovers Naples from the French 15 Gregorian Account when begun 169 Guise the Duke thereof assassinated 199. and the Cardinal put to death ibid. Gunpowder Treason in England 261 H Hats red granted to be worn by Cardinals Friers 209 Henry VIII King of England 25 28. writes a Book against Martin Luther 37. his Divorce debated 59. throws off all subjection to the See of Rome 64. Excommunicated 66 Henry II. King of France slain 118 Henry III. of France assassinated 202 Henry King of Navarre excommunicated by the Pope 181. acknowledged King of France 202. professes the Catholick Fath 214. marries Mary de Medicis 222. murther'd by Ravillac 203 I James I. King of Great Britain 223 Jansenius his Opinions 318. determinations of the Pope upon them 318.341 Japannese Ambassadours to Gregory XIII 171. kindly receiv'd by Sixtus V. 176 Jesuits College at Rome by whom built 170. their Services to the Church 171. not openly favour'd by Sixtus V. 148 Jew at Rome converted by Pius V. 159 Ignatius Loyola canoniz'd 262.270 Index expurgatorius by whom publish'd 116 Indulgences restrain'd by the Pope 214.384 Inquisition by whom contriv'd 110 Interim of Charles V. what 87 Interview of the King of England and French King of Boloign 64. of the Pope and French King at Marseilles 65 Inundation of the Tiber 218.326 Don John of Austria General of the Fleet against the Turks 161.165 Italy divided into Factions 6. embroil'd in War 9. invaded by the French and their Confederates 23 clear'd of them 27 Jubilee celebrated by Sixtus IV. 3. by Paul III. 83. by Julius III. 90. by Gregory XIII 166. by Vrban VIII 275 K Key of the H. Sepulchre presented to the Pope by Bajazet Emperour of the Turks 11 Kinred unreasonably preferred by Pope Sixtus IV. 2.3 and by Alexander VI. 12. not much regarded by Adrian VI. 45. nor Paul III. at first 68. indulged by Paul IV. 110.114 disregarded by Pius V. 159. too much indulged by Vrban VIII 293. the present Pope Innocent XI not fond of 'em 382 Knighthood a new Order instituted by Paul V. 266 L Lance which pierced Christ's side presented to the Pope by the Grand Signior 11 Lautrec General of the French in Italy 57. successful 56. dies 59 League of several Princes and States against the K. of Naples and D. of Milan 14. Of many Italian Lords against Borgia 16. League of Cambray against the Venetians 22. Of the Pope and King of Spain with the Venetians 25. Of the King of England and the French King 57. the Triple League 350 Lepanto the Battel there 161 Letter Apostolical publishing the Jubilee 218 Lewis XI of France favours the Medici against the Pope 5 Lewis XII enters Italy and possesses himself of Milan 15. gains and loses Naples ibid. is excommunicated 25. dies 31 Lucca the Magistracy there give offence to Paul V. 229 Lucretia the Pope's Bastard how bestow'd by him 15 Ludovisio Alexander chosen Pope and nam'd Gregory XV. 267 Luther his first appearance in Germany 36.37 his Sectators increase 62 M Mahomet the Great dies 6 Malatesta Robert General of the Pope s Forces 6 Malta a Controversie there between the Master and the Knights 169 Mantua the troubles there 279.280 Marignano General for the Emperour retakes Siena 105 Marriages of several Princes of the same name 217. Of Lewis XIV and Maria Teresa Infanta of Spain 330 Mary Queen of England her acknowledgment of
in that friendly manner that his Servants and Dependants were glad to be so happily mistaken but this good Nature being forced and constrained did soon vanish and then his fierce and supercilious temper returning to its natural course all his actions were influenced with a spirit of Pride and haughty severity An instance of which he gave to the Steward of his House when he demanded of him in what manner he was pleased to be served his Answer was short saying as became a Prince His Coronation he ordered with more Pomp and Ceremony than was ever before practised and in all things he affected Magnificence and State and was no less indulgent to his Nephews than the most tender and fondest of the Popes Soon after his Coronation he ordered the first Consistory to be publick that he might with the greater State and Pomp give Audience to the Ambassadours of England who in the time of Pope Julius had been dispatched thence from Queen Mary and Philip her Husband The Ambassadours being introduced to his presence and prostrating themselves at his feet did one after the other for so the Pope would have it confess and acknowledg the faults and errors of the Kingdom of England in having strayed and deviated from the flock of Christ and the Sheepfold of the Church but now repenting and returning again did humbly beg Absolution and to be received into the bosom of the Church though by the obstinacy and perseverance in their Errors they had rendered themselves unworthy of such mercy and indulgence The Pope having for some time beheld these Ambassadours at his feet and contemplated their humble posture with some satisfaction of spirit raised them at length from the floor and embraced them with the tenderness of a Father testifying great satisfaction in the happy conversion of this Kingdom and because the Queen and King were the happy Instruments of this blessed and religious work in reward of so much Piety he confirmed their right and title to Ireland and by virtue of that Power which he had received from God to dispose of all Earthly Crowns he conferred on them that Kingdom dignifying them amongst their other Titles with that of King and Queen of Ireland Which piece of vanity though ridiculous to others was extreamly pleasing to the Pope who fancied himself in that Throne of Fools Paradise to which the Devil had in his Pride exalted himself when he tempted our Saviour with all the Kingdoms of the Earth But then afterwards in private Conference with the Ambassadours he blamed England for having but in part shewed their penitence for that whilst they retained any thing of the goods of the Church and did not make restitution to the utmost farthing a Curse would remain on the Kingdom and the people remain in a perpetual snare and danger of Damnation He farther told them That the sooner and the more readily they paid the Peter-pence for collection of which he had sent an Officer into England the more easily would the Gates of Heaven be opened to them for how could they expect that St. Peter should turn his Keys whilest they denied him those Fees which were the dues of his Office In fine the Ambassadours having behaved themselves with humility which was the onely means to procure the favour of this Pope they departed from Rome laden with Praises Honours and Graces from his Holiness and then attending to a full Reformation in England he purged the Universities of Oxford and Cambridg of those Tenents and Lectures which had been there taught by Peter Martir and Bucer and deprived Cranmer of his Arch-bishoprick of Canterbury Having thus obtained his pleasure and Designs over England he next endeavoured to gain an Ascendant over the Emperor and King of France both of which courted him to that Degree that he expected to have them both at his Service and Devotion but in regard it was impossible to entertain them both in the same equality of respect and dearness both Parties strained to outvy each other in Proposals of advantage which might give them admission to his favour in pursuance of which the Cardinal of Lorain who was well acquainted with the humour of the Pope publickly declared in a full Consistory that besides the many steps which the King of France had made in Obedience to the Papal Chair he did acknowledg that the Gallican Church had need of Reformation towards which he was ready to afford all the aid and assistance to the Pope that he was able and to act therein by such ways and methods as his Holiness should direct whether it were by sending his Prelats to the Council or by any other means that should be esteemed more proper and expedient The which so took with the Pope that France for that time gained a preeminence in his favour And yet notwithstanding this Pride and rudeness in his nature he did several things at the beginning to gratify and please the People of Rome which he performed by abating the Taxes and Imposts laid on Provisions and in other things acted with such obliging circumstances that the People in acknowledgment for such abundant favours erected a Statue of Marble for him in the Capitol He regulated the Manners of the Jews and retrenched that liberty and freedom they used and for the better distinction of them ordered them to wear yellow Hats He published several severe Decrees against such as denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ and that he died for the redemption of Mankind In short besides many good Laws and Acts which he ordained against corrupt and dissolute Manners which were grievous to the Clergy who were unaccustomed to a Severity He selected a hundred Citizens of the Gentry of Rome which he created Knights of the Faith to be a standing Life-Guard to the Popes He repealed several Decrees of Julius III. and imprisoned many of those who had been his Creatures and familiar Friends Amongst the Counsellours and Familiar Confidents which he entertained there was none who had at first had a greater share in his favour than Osio whom he declared Datary and chief Notary or Register of Petitions and created Bishop of Riete but he being of a rude and morose temper did always clash against the humour of the Pope which was hard and inflexible like his which therefore ill according together Osio was by the instigation also of the Pope's Relations who were always busie at his ear deprived of his favour and sent Prisoner to the Castle where he remained for the space of four years In the next place by a new Decree he retrieved all those goods and Ecclesiastical Revenues which had been alienated from the Church since the time of Julius II. to his days He reformed also the abuses which were crept into the Office of the Penitentiaries and regulated the Habit and Tables of the Clergy and refused to admit any into Benefices but such as had been approved for holiness of Life and severity of Manners Towards the three Conservators
with the Pope as they had also ordered their Ambassadour in England not to discourse any thing of that Point unto his Majesty or his Counsellours But when the matter came to be advised to Sir Henry Wotton he complained that the Senate had been much more free and open to other Ambassadours than to him and as to the pretensions of the Pope he said That he could not understand that piece of Romish Divinity which was contrary to Justice and moral honesty And now to provide against all those inconveniences and mischiefs which might be the consequences of this Excommunication the Senate commanded all Prelats and Ecclesiastical persons not to permit or suffer any Bulls Briefs or any other Writing to be affixed at any Church door or publick place whatsoever ordaining upon pain of the Prince's displeasure that every person whatsoever who had any of the Copies of that Brief which was lately published at Rome against the Republick should immediately deliver them up into the hands of the Magistrates in Venice and to the Rulers and Governours respectively in all places subject to that Dominion which the people so readily obeyed that in a short time so great a number of Copies were brought in as was wonderful to consider how so many could be printed and such diligence was used by the Magistrates and by the people themselves that not one Brief was affixed in any publick place the persons who endeavoured to act therein being discovered and prevented And farther the true state of that difference which the Republick had with the Pope was advised and intimated to all the Ministers for foreign Princes residing at Venice and the same also signified to all the Agents residing for that Republick in forein parts In like manner the Senate wrote to all their Governours and Magistrates of Towns and Cities subjected to their Dominions acquainting them with the injuries they had received from the Pope and with the reasons they had to defend their Laws and Liberties all which being signified as was commanded unto the Counsels and Magistracy of the Cities it took such impression every where that the people yielded a most entire and chearful obedience thereunto shewing themselves ready to defend the publick Liberty and in maintenance thereof every one offered Money and Arms according to his ability and in pursuance of such Resolution furnished the same as time required After publication made of the Monitory Brief the Pope's Nuntio spent most of his time in the Jesuits College where many of those Fathers were received who had been eminently known for the confusions and disturbances they had created in the World and particularly amongst the rest was one Bernardino of Siena who had lately acted the like part at Paris when the Jesuits were expelled from that City and Antonio Possevino who was famous for his Actions in Moscovy and Poland and skilful in the management of Intrigues there was also Barone a Venetian a bold confident Fellow one that would have a hand in every matter of publick disturbance likewise John Gentes who made profession of truly stating all cases of Conscience being endued with an excellent faculty of finding fault and of condemning and reproving every thing which was acted without his concurrence and of justifying every thing which was appointed and directed by the Jesuits all of them being excellent Instruments in their way and faithful performers of the fourth Article of their Vow But the Nuntio having thus frequented the Society of Jesuits and learned his Lesson in every particular made a visit to the Doge to whom having in the first place expressed his grief for the unhappy estate of Affairs he desired his Serene Highness to consider of some ways and means by which these differences might be composed and in order thereunto he promised his ultimate endeavours and all the good Offices which his authority and interest were able to perform which Discourse he sweetned with the most persuasive and affectionate expressions imaginable often invoking the name of Almighty God of whom when he had occasion to speak he called him Our Lord and in like manner when he had occasion to mention the Pope he called him Our Lord so that in his Discourse it was difficult to distinguish which of the two Lords he meant onely some observing persons had taken notice that when he intended the name of God he kept his head covered but when he meant the Pope he always took his Cap off The Pope having understood how resolute the Senate seemed in maintenance of their Laws and Liberties and with what chearful readiness the people obeyed them conceived little hopes at the present of obtaining his desires and therefore judging that his Nuntio could not continue longer with honour at Venice he dispatched his Letters to recal him from thence and intimated to the Ambassadour Nani by the bishop of Soana that he should depart from Rome not leaving any of his Domesticks or Substitutes in his place At Venice the Superiours and Priors of Monasteries and other Churches were convened before the Council of Ten who signified to them that the pleasure of the Prince was that they should still continue to officiate and perform the Divine Offices and that none of them should leave the State without license obtained It was also declared that protection should be given to such as remained and that such as would depart should not carry with them the Utensils or Vestments or Riches belonging to the Church And that in case any Brief should be sent them from Rome or Order from their Superiors they should first present it to the Magistrates before it was read by themselves and the like Command was given to all Governours of Cities and places under Dominion of Venice As yet the Capucins Theatins and other Religious had not entertained thoughts of departure for when the Monitory was first published at Rome the Provincial and other Capucins held a Consultation together where it was concluded that in regard the differences between the Pope and the Republick had no relation to matters of Faith they were not obliged to follow the Pope's dictates so far in this case as to abandon their Habitations and subsistence yet afterwards the Superiours obeying the pleasure of the Pope expresly commanded all sorts of Religious Orders to depart and leave their Dwellings within the jurisdiction of Venice saying unto them Come forth from them O my People The term of twenty four days being almost expired when the Monitory was to Commence the Senate called the Jesuits to know their resolution whether they would continue in the City or not to which they made answer That they had intentions and desires to stay but could not promise to say Mass excepting which they would engage to perform all other Divine Offices and Service The Senate taking this Answer into consideration resolved that the Jesuits should either celebrate Mass as formerly with all the other functions of Priesthood and not remain in a kind of
Garrison at Ferrara with a thousand Foot he likewise banished all Strangers from Marca and Romagna and commanded the Natives thereof to return into their own Country But to the management of this War designed many difficulties occurred for in the first place there was an excessive scarcity of all Provisions in Rome and the Ecclesiastical State as also in Naples and Abruzzo by reason of which the People cryed out nothing but Peace and Bread and on the contrary there was great abundance of all things within the Dominions of Venice from whence the People of the Pope's Country receiving the most part of their Provisions were kindly affected to the Venetian State but notwithstanding all these difficulties the Pope resolved to proceed in his War and to recruit his Troops and for maintenance thereof new Impositions were laid on Salt Flesh and Paper with intention also to lay a Tax on Wine and Timber if occasion should require And in the mean time the Count de Fuentes Governour of Milan gave out that he would have an Army speedily in the Field consisting of twenty five thousand Men composed of Germans Napolitans Switzers and Spaniards Though the Venetians did not neglect all due care towards the provisions of War and to make their Defence whensoever they should be attacked yet with more especial regard they had an Eye to Plots and Conspiracies within the State giving Orders to their Sea-Captains to stop all Vessels which sailed in the Gulf unless such as had Passes from the King of Spain for his own particular Affairs which caused great embroils along the Coast of Romagna and the Marca d' Ancona which seemed as it were to be blocked up Orders were likewise given to hinder all exportation of Corn out of the Dominions of Venice and Sequestrations laid on the Revenues of the Clergy who had quitted or abandoned the Venetian Countries for which cause many Prelats at Rome were forced to retrench their Families But notwithstanding the Promises made by the Spaniards of administring Aid to the Pope which at the first heat were positive and large yet the Court at Madrid coming to make more mature reflections on the tenure of their former Letters thought fit to explicate their sence more at large and to signifie to the State of Venice That it was not the intention of his Catholick Majesty to make a War on the Republick but onely to demonstrate unto the World that that Crown would on all occasions be joyned to the Apostolical Sea And accordingly D. Inigo de Cardenas Ambassadour residing in Ordinary at Venice did on the 13th of July present a memorial to the Senate signifying That the King being desirous of doing good Offices in the mediation of Peace between the Pope and that Republick had commanded him his Ambassadour to interpose therein assuring him that whatsoever he should act in order thereunto would be most pleasing to his Majesty And that some Overtures might be made in order to this Accommodation Cardenas desired that for a beginning thereunto the Senate would give him leave in their name to desire and supplicate the Pope that he would be pleased to take off his Censures from them being much troubled that they had ever given his Holiness any cause of displeasure which being words of formality and Complement onely could not in reality be prejudicial to the right of their Cause and yet were in this state of things of importance and absolute necessity To which the Doge made Answer That neither by himself nor by the Senate was there ever any just cause of displeasure given to the Pope and therefore to Scandals and Disgusts voluntarily taken and not given there was no other remedy than voluntary Acknowledgments The same day the French Ambassadour urged the Senate to be the first to make Overtures of Peace to the Pope which could be no dishonour to the Republick considering with what respect and duty all Christian Princes treated the Pope and that it is Jus Commune to submit and humble themselves before his Holiness for other matters they might with all confidence rely on the directions of his Majesty herein whom they had always found a true Friend and a faithful Ally That considering on what terms the King of Spain stood with them and how he had declared himself of the Papal Party it was not now seasonable to disgust the King his Master and that therefore they would be pleased to think of some Answer which he might with confidence communicate to the King The Senate having taken these particulars into consideration gave almost the same Answer as they had newly done to the Spanish Ambassadour Adding onely to the French That by way of Mediation he would be pleased to represent unto the Pope That the Senate was troubled that his Holiness would take displeasure at the actions of a Republick which was entirely devoted and dedicated to the glory and service of God to the publick quiet and tranquillity of the World and to the maintenance of that liberty and Power which was committed to them by Divine Right These Negotiations being ineffectual and fruitless the Senate gave Order to Giustiniano their Ambassadour in England to inform King James with the progress and success of all these Affairs and differences with the Pope which when the King had rightly understood he returned this Answer That he was highly satisfied with the constancy of the People and unanimous resolution of the Senate in defence of their Native liberty and justice and of that Power which God hath bestowed upon Princes That the Declaration made by Spain in a Letter was ridiculous and that matters of such importance required more than words That he was highly sensible of the honour which the Republick had done him in sending him an Ambassadour Ordinary and Extraordinary wherefore that he might return them the like demonstrations of sincere Friendship he promised to grant and condescend to all the desires of the Senate for that he should be very ungrateful and unjust in case he should deny protection to that righteous Cause of the Republick which was engaged in the maintenance of that liberty and Authority which is the common Right of all Princes in the Universe And therefore in case the Senate should at any time be engaged in War for this Cause they might be assured and rely on the word of a Prince that he would assist them with all the power he was able and that he had given Commission to his Ambassadour at Venice to assure the Senate the like in his name And farther the Earl of Salisbury by the King's Order added That the King was not induced to grant them these succours on expectation that they should leave Communion with the Church of Rome but onely from a principle of Justice by which he esteemed himself obliged to vindicate the Cause of Princes and the Authority of the Secular Power as also from a Spirit of Animosity being resolved to take that side to which
Principle That no way or concession was to be given to the least point or particle which might prejudice the publick Liberty News came about the beginning of September that a new Congregation was erected in Rome called the Congregation of War which was appointed to assemble twice every Week to consult of the manner and means of waging the Temporal War This new term of a Congregation of War which was never heard of before in Rome administred subject of Discourse to all Italy both because it was contrary to the antient practices of that Court which did always cover their temporal Designs with Spiritual names and because the management thereof was committed to the care of fifteen Cardinals who were all Men of Letters but not of Arms howsoever they served the present turn for being Men of the Spanish faction and depending upon Spain it was believed that their Interest and Power would have been very available in that Court for carrying forward the War and engageing the principal Ministers in their quarrel All Princes of Christendom being now concerned in this difference and great endeavours made for reconciliation it was encharged to Giustiniano Ambassadour to the Court of England to represent unto that King the provisions which were making at Rome for a War desiring that his Majesty would prepare those Forces which he had already promised in defence of their Republick for that Spain was arming and threatned on all sides to invade them To which the King answered That he was resolved to defend their Cause not out of any grudge or quarrel of his own with the Pope but as he called God to witness out of a principle of duty to conserve that Liberty which God had given to Princes nor had he any respect to his own particular benefit or hopes to receive Rewards from the Republick but onely to the justice of that Cause which was most just and pleasing to God and that therefore he would speedily perform his Promise with more sincerity and constancy of mind towards the Republick than the King of Spain had done to the Pope whose Letters and Promises contained nothing but froth and vanity Thus were all Christian Princes concerned in this quarrel on one side or the other some being intent to accommodate differences by middle and moderate terms and others to take Parties and assist with Arms and open Violence until at length about the middle of October the Pope taking it into his consideration that so much the longer that this quarrel continued and that the Venetians remained in their separation from the Church so much more did his Reputation suffer and the Power of the Spiritual Authority discover its own weakness wherefore calling Monsieur d' Alincourt the French Ambassadour unto him he declared and protested that he was infinitely desirous of an Accommodation and was ready to accept of any terms which were not prejudicial or derogatory to the honour of the Papal Sea Upon which Alincourt entering into consultation with the French Cardinals some Proposals were sent to the Republick and communicated by the hand of de Fresnes containing a Project for making and establishing a Peace Nor was the King of Spain unactive herein but to shew his zeal he dispatched an Ambassadour Extraordinary to Venice upon this occasion who declared in the Senate that his Master was so passionate in this business That if he had two Sons he would be contented to sacrifice one of them on condition it might be an offering of atonement and reconciliation between the Pope and the Venetian State Whilest all these Treaties and Instances were a foot Letters were dispatched from the Court of Spain to the Count de Fuentes Governour of Milan that he should levy an Army to be in a readiness for assistance of the Pope and accordingly three thousand Italian Foot were raised for this Service which with the other Forces already prepared and levied in other parts the King designed to compose an Army of twenty five thousand Foot and four thousand Horse The Senate of Venice observing that the Spaniards armed did not think it agreeable to the Rules of good Government for them to sit idle but to put themselves in a posture of War to repel Force with Force and to be in a readiness on all occasions which might happen And accordingly they added six hundred Italian Foot and one thousand Albanians to the nine thousand six hundred Foot and six hundred Men at Arms and one hundred and fifty Albanian Horse which were already listed and in a readiness They also ordered Count Martinengo to raise four thousand French Soldiers and six hundred Curassiers and not to be wanting in their Fleet at Sea they ordered that to the thirty eight Sail of Gallies already equipped twelve more should be set out with addition of five more which were recalled from the Islands in the Levant Whilest the Spaniards and Venetians were arming in this manner on one side and the other Priuli Ambassadour for the Republick in France acquainted the King with all these preparations desiring his Majesty would be pleased to declare himself in favour of the Senate to which the King gave Answer That it was not as yet time and that there remained still hopes of Accommodation and that being moved and sollicited herein by all the Princes of Italy he was dispatching the Cardinal Joyeuse to Venice and thence to Rome to interpose effectually in this Mediation And indeed this Cardinal was the most fit and proper Instrument of any to effect this accord for he was not onely a Person of great Esteem and Authority in the Court of Rome being a Cardinal of the first degree and rank but also of great reputation with the Senate of Venice who being desirous to commit the Office of mediation to the Interest of the French King whom they had found more sincere and real to them than the King of Spain and his Adherents they received the Cardinal with entire satisfaction who arrived at Venice about the middle of February The Cardinal spending little time in formal Ceremonies and Visits immediately entered on his business delivered his Credential Letters and opened his Commission and in the first place insisting that as it was necessary to provide for the security and reputation of the Republick so also it was necessary to contrive such means as might give satisfaction to the Pope whose Proposals were these That an Ambassadour be sent from the Republick to desire his Holiness that he would be pleased to take off the Ecclesiastical Censures which he had passed upon them That all the Religious as well Jesuits as others who had left and abandoned their dwelling and Habitations should be again restored That the King should give his word to the Pope that during this Treaty at Rome the Laws about which this Controversie arose should be suspended And the Cardinal insisting more on this Point than on any other earnestly urged that some resolution might be taken speedily and with
with such Solemnity beyond what was usual that one Mascardus thought it worthy his description in a particular Treatise of that pompous Subject in memory of which the People of Rome erected a Triumphal Arch in the Capitol with this Inscription on the one side thereof Vrbano Octavo Barberino Pont. Max. Antiquae Gloriae Restitutori Authori Novae SPQR In Veteris Capitolii ruderibus Hoc qualecunque Recidivae Majestis specimen Ponit At the beginning of his Pontificate he confirmed the Decree of Pius V. against alienation of Church-Lands as also of the Towns Places and Demesnes belonging to the Church And for imploring the blessing of God on his Rule and Government He ordered Prayers of forty hours continuance to be held in the Churches of St. Peter St. John of Lateran and St. Mary ad praesepe vulgarly called Santa Maria Maggiore and in two other Churches in several quarters of the City He instituted also a new Order of Militia with the Title of Knights of the Conception of our Lady who took the Vow and observed the Rules of St. Francis under the protection of St. Michael and St. Basil This Order was first honoured by Charles Gonzaga and Vladislaus IV. King of Poland who took this Knighthood on occasion of a War against the Turks and Gonzaga coming to Rome with a Noble Retinue received the Cross and Habit from the Pope Of this Order were seventy Knights whose Banner was a Red Cross carrying a Flag fastned to it with a Golden Chain in which was a bright Image of the Virgin with the Devil under her feet with these words Vince Hoc Insigni Vere Nostro And further at the beginning of his Reign he appointed a select number of religious and grave Men to visit all the Monasteries both of Men and Women as also all Colleges and Hospitals and other publick places to take an account and knowledg of the abuses and disorders committed therein and to give their Opinions and advices for a redress of them and of their proceedings herein their Instructions were to render weekly an account unto the Pope He exhorted also all Bishops to reside in their respective Dioceses and not to excuse the Cardinâ—ls from the like Duty and Obligation he admonished them in a full Consistory to watch personally over their Flock and Charge for default of which and of strict Discipline a depravity of Manners and loosness of life was spread amongst the people Vt nostrae conscientiae consulamus vos monitos esse volumus à caeteris Episcopis in hâc parte non differre Cardinales Episcopos iisque non suffra gari qâ—od dicitur Pontifex scit tolerat quia in nobis nulla est tolerantia nulla conniventia But this earnestness of the Pope in this Point was believed to proceed from a desire he had to rid himself from some troublesom Cardinals who were always projecting and forming matters for Intrigues in the Court. And now according to the Bull of Paul II. reducing the Jubilies to every twenty five years the time was return'd in this year 1625. for a Jubily the last having been held in the year 1600. under Clement VIII To make a preparation hereunto a Bull was issued under the date of the 29th of April 1624. to advise the World that the following year was the holy year of Jubily that so all those who were desirous to gain the benefit of Indulgences might have timely notice so to dispose their Affairs as with convenience to repair to the Holy City and obtain the fruits of the Holy year and accordingly on the 24th of December 1624. he opened the Holy Gate in conformity to the Ceremonies described in other places But before the beginning of this Jubily the Republick of Venice sent their Ambassadours to kiss the Pope's feet and make tender of their Obedience to the Apostolical Sea the like was performed by Ambassadours from the Duke of Florence the Republicks of Genoua Luca and other Princes of Italy And when in the month of July 1625. the Ambassadours from the Catholick King came to perform their Obeysance Don Bartolines de Castro uttered himself in this manner By this Man meaning the Duke of Alcala who was Ambassador in chief who is chosen out of the principal Ministers of State King Philip doth offer and present to you most Holy Father all that duty and obedience which may evidence the subjection and reverence which he acknowledges due to your Holiness and the Apostolical Sea and therewith subjects all his Kingdoms Provinces Islands Seas and People as a most obedient Son and offers them at your holy Feet Then Vrban VIII he adores on his knees Thee he acknowledges to be the Vicar of Christ Our Lord and the Successour of St. Peter To Thee who art the Head of the Catholick Church and of all the Christian Commonwealth he willingly and freely offers all obedience promising and vowing to lend all his Force Riches and Strength both by Sea and Land in defence of the Apostolical Sea and Orthodox Religion from which no Power or other consideration whatsoever shall be able to divert or separate his Resolutions The year of Jubily passing with these Ceremonies and acts of Devotion at the end thereof being the 24th of December 1625. the Gate of the Church of St. John de Lateran was shut by Cardinal Levi Arch-deacon of that Church that of Santa Maria Maggiore by Cardinal Millin the Arch deacon also of that Church that of St. Paul by Cardinal de Monte Dean of the Sacred College and during the time that these three Cardinals were employed in these Ceremonies the Pope assisted at the Vespers in St. Peter's Church which being ended he himself shut the Gates of the Church of the Vatican with the ordinary Solemnity in memory of which this Inscription was engraved Vrbanus VIII Pont. Max. Portam Sanctam reseravit Et Clausit Anno M.DC. XXV Howsoever in favour to Pilgrims the Pope thought sit to continue the benefit and priviledg of his Indulgences until the first day of the year 1626. And now the Pope who at the beginning of his Pontificate had created Francis Barberino his Nephew Cardinal Deacon of St. Onufrio was still designing greater honours for him and in the year 1624. gave him the Title of Cardinal of St. Agatha and made him Pretor of the Cities of Tiburtia and Firmiana Patron and Protector of Aragon Portugal England Scotland c. Library-keeper of the Apostolical Sea and Vice-Chancellour of the Holy Church of Rome and farther to exalt him with higher honours in the year 1625. he sent him into France with the character of Legat à Latere and to make his reception more splendid he dispatched Bernardino Mari a Patrician of Rome into France to intreat Lewis XIII that he would be pleased to receive his Nephew under that degree and quality At his departure from Rome the Pope delivered to him a Cross with his Benediction and the Cardinals accompanied him to the gate